Court stays execution of death sentence in rape, murder case

The Supreme Court at a special sitting on Sunday stayed the execution of death sentence of convict Selvam, fixed for Monday by the First Additional Sessions Judge Salem, in a case of rape and murder of a minor girl.

A Bench of Justices Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Misra, in a sitting held at the former’s residence, heard counsel K.V. Vijayakumar and stayed the execution after it was brought to the court’s notice that the convict was to be hanged on Monday morning.

The Bench issued notice to the State seeking its response on the special leave petition filed by Selvam challenging the September 21 judgment of the Madras High Court upholding the death sentence awarded by the trial court. Counsel submitted that the date of execution had been fixed before the expiry of the 90-day period for the convict to move the Supreme Court.

The prosecution said the appellant raped and murdered a class IV student in February 2009. The trial court in March 2010 slapped the death sentence. The High Court was also of the view that the evidence was marshalled properly and the prosecution without an iota of doubt had established the guilt of the accused. It had been proved that it was he who had actually taken the girl, raped and murdered her and then put the body in a gunny bag and placed it in a canal.

The court said that all the charges levelled against him stood proved and it affirmed the finding of the trial court. Further, it was held that it was a fit case where the death sentence awarded by the trial court had to be upheld.

Assailing the High Court judgment, the appellant said that some of his antecedents considered by the High Court were inadmissible as evidence.

Further, the High Court had failed to consider the possibility of his reform and rehabilitation.

It ought to have commuted the death sentence into life imprisonment, he said and prayed for a stay on the operation of the judgment and stay on execution of the death sentence

The main aim of this program is to protect women from being affected from Domestic Violence, to make ways to obtain legal advice, to obtain Medical help, to know the Sections handling Domestic violence, to stop drug addiction, males should be provided the appropriate advice, to stop the following like Sexual harassment, Mercy killing, Kidnapping of female child and the Murders based on dowry.

ADECOM Network, Maitri Network, and Kootukkural Theatre Movement all are 3-day van preaching combined and inaugurated this conceptual program at villianur. This van preaching took place totally for 3 days from 26th to 28th of December 2013.On that occasion ADECOM’s director Ms.Lalidamballe, insisted that the females, in this day –to-day life, were not given full freedom to move in their families and they were also not allowed to participate freely in the society. Domestic Violence against women is not only a crime affecting emotions; it is also against their health. It plays a hindrance to Equality, Prosperity, Safety and Peace. Ms.Lalidamballe gave a speech on these following concepts: Violence created by the male community, husbands (in family), occur in the houses, families, and by their relatives.

Chair Person of Pondicherry Central social adversary Board Mrs.Revathy Pargunan, hoisted the flag and initiated this van preaching. Mr.Thandapani clearly spoke about the problems that the women are facing in their daily lives. Mr.Elumalai spoke that, the various problems inflicted to women, include all castes, society and women have been facing these over a long span of years and they also occur culture-wise. Mr.Rajan spoke, that the laws should be created to meet the violence against women and for the welfare of the affected women. Women have been affected by these problems and these occur on a repetitive note. Women face various problems in their work place, public place, and in their families. He also insisted that these problems should be solved on a quick basis. Mr.Perumal, Mr. Kaliamoorthy congratulated that this van preaching should be done as a successful journey. By this van preaching, problems that women face were displayed in the form of Theatres, Songs and Conversations. This preaching followed in the villages in and around Villianur Commune (province).

The theatre workshop organized for youth at Kootukkural Office from 20th of November to 24th of November 2013. The main aims of this workshop are youth learning to perform in theatre, to understand about the domestic violence issues, and to make those issues popularized in the villages. Training were given for Theatre, song, Kombu dance, Kumi , paraiattam for a Hard core campaign. And preaching based on Domestic Violence from 25th till 10th December 2013.

This workshop, Mr.Kalaivendan taught nearly 7 songs with the base of violence against women particularly women equality. Mr.Elumalai taught a theatre based on the title”kalayana kacheri”, which deals with the dowry harassments that a woman faces after marriage. Mr.Kanthavel taught them a theatre based on the title”antha Nallu per”, dealing on the issue of child marriage and alcohol related problems. Training for these 2 theatre performances and Song sessions were continuously given for 5 days. Physical exercise activities were given before starting the theatre training sessions. Then Mr.Elumalai gave a specific training for these following talents like, Smiling, Crying, and voice flow. Then during this Theatre sessions: trainers, co-workers, Volunteers obtained a good knowledge out of these training sessions. During this training period, cool drinks, tea, lunch were provided. This theatre, song training sessions were given in such a way so as to create a brief awareness among people, indicating the faults like dowry harassments which they commit in their day –to-day lives.

On 27th September 2013 legal public hearing was held in Uchimedu office under the leadership of Hon’ble Judge Ms. Prabavathy. Mr. Perumal participated on behalf of ADECOM, he explained the objectives of ADECOM and also explained the reason why ADECOM is working for Dalit People and self employment training, computer

training and, tailoring training. Ms. Aruna and Ms. Deepa were participated. Women were participated with their demand to submit to the Judge. She explained why th

e legal public hearing is important. Women are not possible come to court, this event to motivate the women for file the demand petition to the Judge. So I came here to see you all and try to solve the problems. Women in that meeting requested to conduct this public hearing in their village also. She explained that every villager people are asking the same thing but you have to come to Legal authority to solve the problems. If possible ADECOM will organize this kind to public hearing in every village.Ms. Mageshwari and Ms. sumathi also participated in this meeting.

The Legal camp was organized on July 18th at Vadukuppam village of Villupuram district under the leadership of Manjula. Totally 81 women were participated in this camp. She explains the importance for the birth certificate, marriage certificate and other document to need. They collected to the documents for getting the those certificates. Mr. soundarasu and Ms.Girija were participated as resource person to address about the imports to legal document for their rights. Then Ms. Chitradevi gave brief information about importance of birth and marriage certificate. How is apply to get that certificate. Ms. Lalida was also participated in this camp, women are mostly not interested to register their marriage. This problem is not easy to solve when she has trouble with husband, so women should register their Marriage though this camp. She also informed ADECOM helps the people to get birth and marriage certificate, to solve the problems the legal problem for women.

Legal training was held on 31th May in VTC office at Uchimedu under the leadership of Ms. Lalidamalle and Ms.Suganya gave speech about the objectives and principles of ADECOM network and the problems faced by women in our society and how ADECOM helps women to overcome those problems. Ms. Banu the women leader was participated the training to motivate the women. She explains to the women about the various aspect of the legal system to protect the women. The women leader Ms. Sangeetha from Seliyamedu was also participated in this meeting. Mr. Perumal stated the problems and problem tackling techniques legally. Also he highlighted that legal advice and solution will be given to domestic violence, change of name, certificate issues and economic problems to solve legally. Finally the meeting was end up successfully with vote of thanks by organizer Mr. A. Ashok. At the end of the meeting, field worker were note down the problems of the women such as seeking to get birth certificate, change of name in the birth certificate, change of birth date in the birth certificate, and seeking to get Ration ID.

At beginning of the program, Mrs. S. Magadevi – Facilitator of Annal Ambedkar Women Rationalistic Movement was given welcome speech to everyone. Next to that, the program was started along with Dr. Ambedkar song. It was given by Mother High School students along with Ms. Kasturi – Facilitator of Kootu-k-Kural. After that, preside address was given by Mrs. Lalidamballe. And the special guests were delivered special address about women’s legal rights, their basic education & their social empowerment. Mrs. Sumathi – Field Co-coordinator of Annal Ambedkar Women Rationalistic Movement & Mrs. Malathi – Tailoring trainer of Village Training Centre were addressed their experiences in field and training.

In center of the program, Mother High school children were presented excellent cultural programs such as Drama, Dance & songs. Mr. Kandavel – Staff of Kootu-k-Kural was given special training for those students. Also gifts were distributed to competition winners by our special guests. Then Honorable gifts were distributed to every participated special guest. Finally, the program was completed well along with the vote of thanks. It was given by Ms. Suganya – Facilitator of ADECOM Network.